The Eight-Circuit Model of Consciousness is a hypothesis by Timothy Leary, and later expanded on by Robert Anton Wilson and Antero Alli, that "suggests eight periods[circuits] of neurological evolution".[1] The eight circuits, or eight "brains" as referred by other authors, operate within the human nervous system, each corresponding to its own imprint and direct experience of reality.[2] Leary called his book "science faction" or "psi-phy" and noted he had written it "in various prisons to which the author had been sentenced for dangerous ideology and violations of Newtonian and religious laws".[3]

According to the authors, as one grows from infancy the circuits are activated in turn, with only the first four activated universally. The first four circuits deal with life on earth, and survival of the species. The last four circuits are post terrestrial, and deal with the evolution of the species, altered states of consciousness, enlightenment, mystical experiences, psychedelic states of mind, and psychic abilities. The hypothesis proposes that these altered states of consciousness are recently realized, but not widely utilized. Leary describes the first four as "larval circuits", necessary for surviving and functioning in a terrestrial human society, and proposed that the post terrestrial circuits will be useful for future humans who, through a predetermined script, continue to act on their urge to migrate to outer space and live extraterrestrially. Leary, Wilson, and Alli have written about the the idea in depth, and have explored and attempted to define how each circuit operates, both in the lives of individual people and in societies and civilization.

The term "circuits" came from people inspired by aspects of Eastern philosophy who were also involved in cybernetics research and development in the United States in the 1970s.

Leary used the eight circuits to explain both personal "evolution" of an individual as well as his view of the biological evolution of all life.

Each circuit listed has each name from Leary's book "Exo-Psychology" after the preface,[4][5] and Wilson's book "Quantum Psychology" pgs.196-201.[6]Note:In other books from Leary, Wilson, and Alli, the eight circuits have different names due to different interpretations and findings of each author. Please reference bibliography section for other works on labeling of each circuit.

This circuit is concerned with nourishment, physical safety, comfort and survival, suckling, cuddling, etc. It begins with one spatial dimension, forward/back.

This circuit is imprinted early in infancy. The imprint will normally last for life unless it is re-imprinted by a powerful experience. Depending on the nature of the imprint, the organism will tend towards one of two basic attitudes:

A positive imprint sets up a basic attitude of trust. The organism generally considers the environment benign and accepts and approaches. This is equivalent to a default life position of "you're ok" in the 'life positions' model of Transactional analysis.

A negative imprint sets up a basic attitude of suspicion. The organism generally regards the environment as hostile and flees and avoids. This is equivalent to a default life position of "you're not ok" in the 'life positions' model of Transactional analysis.

This circuit is said to have appeared in the earliest evolution of the invertebrate brain and corresponds to the reptilian brain of triune brain theory. This circuit operates in essentially the same way across mammals, reptiles, fish, primates and humans.[citation needed]

This circuit is imprinted by human symbol systems. It is concerned with language, handling the environment, invention, calculation, prediction, building a mental "map" of the universe, physical dexterity, etc.

Robert Anton Wilson, being heavily influenced by General Semantics, writes of this circuit as the 'time-binding circuit'. This means that this circuit's contents – including human know-how, technology, science etc. - are preserved memetically and passed on from generation to generation, constantly mutating and increasing in sophistication.

This fourth circuit is imprinted by the first orgasm-mating experiences and tribal "morals". It is concerned with sexual pleasure (instead of sexual reproduction), local definitions of "moral" and "immoral", reproduction, rearing of the young, etc. The fourth circuit concerns itself with cultural values and operating within social networks. This circuit is said to have first appeared with the development of tribes. Leary never associated a drug with it, but some have pointed out that entactogens such as MDMA seem to meet some of the requirements needed to activate this circuit.

This is concerned with neurological-somatic feedbacks, feeling high and blissful, somatic reprogramming, etc. It may be called the rapture circuit.[23]

When this circuit is activated, a non-conceptual feeling of well-being arises. This has a beneficial effect on the health of the physical body.[24]

The fifth circuit is consciousness of the body. There is a marked shift from linear visual space to an all-encompassing aesthetic sensory space. Perceptions are judged not so much for their meaning and utility, but for their aesthetic qualities.[25] Experience of this circuit often accompanies an hedonistic turn-on, a rapturous amusement, a detachment from the previously compulsive mechanism of the first four circuits.

This circuit is activated by ecstatic experiences via physiological effects of cannabis, Hatha Yoga, tantra and Zen meditation. Robert Anton Wilson writes, "Tantra yoga is concerned with shifting consciousness entirely into this circuit"[26] and that "Prolonged sexual play without orgasm always triggers some Circuit V consciousness".[27]

Leary describes that this circuit first appeared in the upper classes, with the development of leisure-class civilizations around 2000 BC.

Note: Timothy Leary lists this circuit as the sixth, and the neurogenetic circuit as the seventh.[30] in "Prometheus Rising", Robert Anton Wilson reversed the order of these two circuits,[31] describing the neurogenetic circuit as the sixth circuit, and the metaprogramming circuit as the seventh. In the subsequently published "Quantum Psychology", he reverted this back to the order proposed by Leary.

This circuit is concerned with re-imprinting and re-programming all earlier circuits and the relativity of “realities” perceived. The sixth circuit consists of the nervous system becoming aware of itself. Leary says this circuit enables telepathic communication and is activated by low-to-moderate doses of LSD (50-150 µg), moderate doses of peyote, psilocybin mushrooms and meditation/chanting especially when used in a group or ritual setting. This circuit is traced by Leary back to 500 BC.

This circuit is the connection of the individual's mind to the whole sweep of evolution and life as a whole. It is the part of consciousness that echoes the experiences of the previous generations that have brought the individual's brain-mind to its present level.

Leary stated "They[The theories presented in Info-Psychology] are scientific in that they are based on empirical findings from physics, physiology, pharmacology, genetics, astronomy, behavioral psychology, information science, and most importantly, neurology." [39]

Although Leary propounded the basic premise of eight "brains" or brain circuits, he was inspired by sources such as the Hinduchakra system.

An under-utilized “lower” circuit hinders the complete expression of a “higher” circuit. It would thus become necessary for a person to fully experience, integrate, and embody the survival circuits, in order to withstand the shock that accompanies the activation of the post-survival circuits.

Leary's first book on the subject, Neurologic, only included seven circuits when it was published in 1973. Exo-Psychology, published in 1977, expanded the number of circuits to eight and clarified the subject. In it, he puts forward the theory that the later four circuits are "post terrestrial;" intended to develop as we migrate off this planet and colonize others.[40] Once we begin space migration, according to Leary, we will have more ready access to these higher circuits. Exo-Pyschology was re-published as revised by Timothy Leary with additional material in 1989 under the title Info-Psychology (New Falcon Publishing).

Leary's ideas heavily influenced the work of Robert Anton Wilson. Wilson's book Prometheus Rising is an in-depth work documenting Leary's eight-circuit model of consciousness. Wilson's published screenplay Reality Is What You Can Get Away With uses and explains the model. Wilson, like Leary, wrote about the distinction between terrestrial and post-terrestrial life.

Angel Tech by Antero Alli, is structured around the Eight-circuit model of consciousness. Alli defines the word angel as "a being of light" and tech from the word "techne" meaning "art". The title is defined as "the art of being light".[41] It includes suggested activities such as meditations and construction of tarot-card collages associated with each circuit and imprint.

Bruce Scofield has written about the correlations of the mode with astrology. Resonances between planetary cycles and the birthday are suggested to be triggers that open temporary windows of imprint vulnerability. The Moon is correlated with the biosurvival period, Mars with the emotional-territorial stage, Mercury with the rational mind and Venus with the socio-sexual stage. These are initiated respectively at birth, at the second birthday, at age 3.5 and age 8 at which times the Moon, Mars, Mercury and Venus return to their birth positions, or are in phase with it. The other four circuits are considered octaves of the first four.[44]